Bebe Neuwirth All That Jazz

[chuckwynn1026]

This video is a favorite on Majuro

[Life15Juicy]

Okay, comparing Bebe to Catherine is like comparing apples to oranges, they're different. The movie Chicago was meant to be very different from the show, so Velma is different. In the movie she was supposed to be more serious and dynamic while in the stage play she's meant to be more humorous. When you think about it that way, they both did an outstanding job portraying their characters, so really they're neck-in-neck.

[bleger814]

Terrific! Is there someway you can get rid of the clock time showing?

[redfender93]

I loooooove fosse

[alyssakpeck]

SO FREAKING GOOD

[gailynda]

uh... yah!!!

[btothefloflo]

She really doesn't make it all the way up to the D at the beginning of "Jazz" at the end. But she still nails the rest.

[btothefloflo]

She really doesn't make it all the way up to the D at the beginning of "Jazz" at the end. But she still nails the rest.

[tonybklyn]

Wow, Lillith unplugged! ;-) God I LOVE this woman!

[IdLie32]

@tonybklyn I love Bebe in everything I've ever seen her in, especially as Lilith - she's so cold and intense.

[olenarochelle143]

Wow her voice changed thru out the yrs !

[BroadwayAddiction]

@Nikkiscamful no....Lady Gaga (unfortunately) never had talent lol

[Mattjblythe111]

@BroadwayAddiction Ignorant.

[BroadwayAddiction]

Thumbs up if Bebe is the hottest Velma even to this day!!! =D

[RebaRocks100]

A - FREAKING - MAZING!!!!!!

I <3 Bebe!!!

[benco007]

the broadway version has almost gone to crap... this is good. but i saw it on tour, and the dancers were not that good.

[AdamEfimoff]

@benco007 would susan stroman be good ?

[crazy01girl]

I saw her as Morticia in The Addams Family. She was amazing. But this is so different! She's awesome.

[beachgirl48]

Bebe is the best! I have the CD and just love to sing to it!

[Kellilesli]

Awesome! Is there a way to email the person who posts these?

[sequens2000]

wow what would frasier (cheers) say??? grrrrrrrrrrrr

[LaMisereHQ]

WoW! The memories! Saw Bebe's Velma at the Shubert on Broadway in July, 1997. Perfection.

[MamaMiaBaby93]

chita rivera is my favorite velma

bebe is amazing no doubt

and catherine did a pretty great job to

[thewordthatpierces]

Boy, I just love Anne Reinkings choreography, she did a great job doing it in the style of Fosse, it is fantastic!!! :D:D:D And I've always thought Bebe was great in this role, I would have loved to have seen her on Broadway, unfortunately, I didn't make it to New York till 2008 (I live on the opposite side of the states). :( But wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!!!!

God Bless ~Amy

[NeuwirthFan]

Sadly I couldn't see Chicago on Broadway with Bebe but I saw The Addams Family with her.. And seeing her on Broadway is a once in a lifetime chance believe me I cannot explain my feelings when curtain rised and I saw her for the first time.. However I don't Think she could play the movie part.. Of course it would have been great but she's a theater actress and cinema is way different than theater...

[Snape1918]

@NeuwirthFan Haha I had the same feeling! When the curtains opened i was like OH MY GOD IT'S BEBE NEUWIRTH!!!!!!!!!!! I was seriously jumping in my seat haha. I wasn't even born when she was in Chicago, unfortunately :(

[Xerxes115]

God I love this, I remember seeing her in this in the Winter of 1996 on Broadway. She was so awesome!

[1MissKarlieStarr]

I might be directing a short version of this show and this is GREAT inspiration xD

[joannastumbo]

I don't think it's fair to compare Catherine to Bebe since that was a movie and this was live, they both have wonderful qualities but they are different in many ways.

[mineowyn]

@joannastumbo I think most people know that. But I think alot of people pissed off with all the CZJ is better than Bebe comments on youtube. these people should just fuck off. anyway CZJ is too young to pull off Velma's song. Chita and Bebe all the way.

[MrRainbowquest]

Yes they do angellguardiandl0111

[RaineaTrenton]

I like Catherine's version better it has more character and more kick ya in the nuts flavor.

[gaylefranklin]

@RaineaTrenton If you EVER saw Bebe play Velma on B'way, Im quite sure you would change your mind.

[RaineaTrenton]

@RaineaTrenton Probably but still I sort of prefer Catherine's more ballsy and drunk entertainer take on it.

[akrukowski1964]

Bebe is obviously the best at this, but to be fair to CZJ, she was pregnent when filming the movie so she probably could not do some of the moves right. Funny that Ann is playing Roxie in this. She is definetly too old to play the part, just like Gwen was too old in the original. I am sure all of you know the movie "All That Jazz" was based on Bob putting this together for Gwen.

[cards0486]

I saw Bebe in CHICAGO on Broadway. When she came up from the back, walked down those steps and started singing ALL THAT JAZZ I swear, I could have died happy that night! She is THE BEST!!!

[akashaqod34]

bebe is the best velma ever

[TheHoneyDrums]

ojalá puedas subir toda la obra completa

gracias

[xomelxo92]

She does nail it!

But to be fair CZJ does a hell of a job also.

[jennette4eva]

Bebe absolutely nails the part of Velma and she is very talented

[MichaelCH2007]

She definitely should have played the role in the film version. I don't see why she couldn't have.

[HomoAnarky1958]

WE LOOOVE YA BEBE!

[silkorganza]

Bebe N blow CZJ out of the water:-) She nails it!

[AdamEfimoff]

@silkorganza they are both excellent

[bettedavisfan1]

I can't believe she's in her fifties.SHe's 50 in this video

[Donalx07]

@bettedavisfan1 how could she have been 50 in this video when this was filmed in '96 and shes only 51 now? lol

[mmb1998]

No. She 51 now. This was 1997. She was 38.

[Wartonite]

A BIG thank you for posting this gem!!!

[TheHawk1959]

Bebe Neuwirth should have gotten the role of Velma in the film version of Chicago.Bebe is a far better singer and actress than CVJ will ever be.For example look at her role as Lilith in Cheers she nailed that part.Looking at that part who would have known that she was such a wonderful singer and dancer or so sexy for that matter.

[JGermanMP]

Too good to be true... It's just so great.

[mynameisxena]

OMG...absolutely brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing. Now folks like me who never got to see Ann and Bebe in person in those roles can at least get a taste. Incredible stuff! :)

[qpalzmization]

Ann Reinking and Walter Boobie evidently approved of Ute Lemper, otherwise she would not have got the part.

[jferrante42]

Love it!

[tillyboos]

Catherine Zeta Jones for the film version worked, but Bebe Neuwirth was AWESOME as Velma in the B'way revival. Saw her in NYC in 1997. BRILLIA NT! And that was 5yrs. before the film!

[TBon3Supl3x]

I disagree, I think Bebe's take was a huskier, more worn, chain-smoking take on the character than Bebe's cleaner smoother black-velvet take, personally I think Bebe's voice is far more listenable, Ute's got some pipes but all her odd vocalizations and vowels just get in the way of that for me. A good voice potentially with every unattractive vocal habit known to man just doesn't make for good vocal performances.

[goldenidol]

Does anyone know the name of the male dancer with dark hair that is behind Bebe. The one that looks like he is wearing a thick shiny belt. Please, someone identify him?

[toddrc816]

Jim Borstelman

[bcrocker33]

i loved the movie, but the coreography in the stage version of this is far superior in my opinion. that fosse wrist curl action and the moves, just phenominal. i love it.

[grayC2]

HER VOICE IS PURE VELVET!!

[joli188]

I'm not a huge fan of Bebe like I am with other Broadway ladies, but I must give her props...I personally think that her interpretation fits well with Velma's character.

[notsooldromantic]

I don't hate Bebe by the way.  She does deserve credit for leading the way in the revival of Chicago.

[notsooldromantic]

We all seem to have different ideas about what Velma should be like. I enjoyed Ute's performance for its vigour and energy - she did win an Olivier Award for it - or are the Olivier awards people silly as well? What we do agree on though, is that Ann Reinking's choreography is absolutely superb. Nobody could have done better for this show.

[saddleshoe]

Actually I think she uses her voice cleverly

[hsxagent]

Wow, what is with all the bebe hating. Yes, she has a normal voice, nothing to write home about. However, why she won the tony is for the acting and dancing. Which she did an amazing job. Also, this rough cut of the show doesn't do justice to the finshed product for which Chicago won the tony's for.

[notsooldromantic]

Not a particulalry good singing voice,

[robinxyz101]

Bebe is da bomb.

[MaryannThorpe]

I <3 Bebe!!!

[greygardens79]

I love her entrance and her exit! She really took on that role and made it her own with Fosse and Chita being the foundation.

[dmpfc]

What year was this?

[derkie1231]

The revival opened on Broadway in November 1996- this video is sometime around then (as it features the original revival cast).

[violetcloud]

BEBE <3

[angellguardiandl0111]

Nobody does this part better than Bebe!

[annalisabrown]

Totally agree!!! It will always be Bebe!

[PattiLuponeFan216]

To be honest, I prefer Ute Lemper. Bebe can act, but her singing voice is a bit flat, and, not to be rude,so is she.

[LuvsUlf5]

DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN!!!??? Sorry,uh not to be rude but have you lost your mind??? Ute Lemper was one of the WORST Velma's ever!! It's as if the role of Velma Kelly was written for Bebe(& I am not a fan of Bebe as a person but she nails this part !). Bebe Neuwirth owns this role hands down!

[PattiLuponeFan216]

Okay, there is nothing wrong with stating your honest opinion, but I personally disagree. Bebe looked the part part, but something just didn't click with me. Ute was the best ever (in my opinion)

[LuvsUlf5]

Well, I genuinely do not even know how to respond other than to agree with you that we all have our own personal preferences regardless of what those preferences are based on. We sure do have one thing in common....Patti is royalty! Her incomparable talent is equaled only by what an incredible sweetheart she is. Have a good evening.

[DocDLH]

@angellguardiandl0111

no argument here!! It's too bad Cheers couldn't find a way to exploit her singing and sexuality more than it did.

[Babs22h]

@angellguardiandl0111 try the original velma kelly.... CHITA RIVERA!

[LifeOutsideTheBubble]

@angellguardiandl0111 Not even Chita Rivera?

[LifeOutsideTheBubble]

@LifeOutsideTheBubble CZJ was pretty great in her own right, though.

[pudgeuncle]

@angellguardiandl0111 Did you see Chita Rivera do the role originally...as I did 9 times? Jasmine Guy was also sensational, as was Lenora Nemetz, Rivera's replacement. Neuwirth isn't remotely in their league.

[ruggerdgmail]

@pudgeuncle So I'm assuming you saw Neuwirth in the role. Just curious because I never saw Rivera do it live but I have seen video. Sorry but I will have to disagree as did the Tony' Awards and the public. Not remotely in their league! Absurd, but you are certainly entitled to your opinion.

[pudgeuncle]

@ruggerdgmail Yes, I saw Neurwirth do the role THREE times, once at Encores and twice on Broadway. Marginal. And if you use the Tonys as criteria, then you are not that knowledgeable about the theater period. And did you see Nemetz or Jasmine Guy? I doubt it so how can YOU judge?  Ms. Neuwirth sings like a barking mule and is above an average chorus girl. She's a stunner with great comic timing but she is hardly in the class with these other women, especially Rivera who I saw NINE times.

[ruggerdgmail]

@pudgeuncle Really. I have not seen them all live but I've seen Nemetz in other shows and saw videos of Jasmine Guy. I know quite a bit about theater and since we are throwing nonsensical moronic comments out there I will say that I have probably forgotten more about theater than you ever knew. Would you like to start comparing knowledge and experience. The fact that I cite the benchmark theatrical accolade attributed to a performer shows that my OPINION is not alone.

[pudgeuncle]

@ruggerdgmail The Tonys-An award which gave Best Musical to Fiorello and The Sound of Music jointly over Gypsy. And seeing video does not substitute seeing an ENTIRE performance. And having worked in the business with enough Playbills in my posession to wallpaper the White House, I don't really give a fig what you think dear.

[ruggerdgmail]

@pudgeuncle I could care less what you give a fig on dear. I could probably paper the White House as well with my playbills and I would like proof that you work in the "industry", and even if you do what does that mean. That you are an expert. My comment was directed at your nastiness. You are clearly an asshole so don't bother responding back I have no interest in any further discussion with you! The only Barking mule here is YOU!

[ruggerdgmail]

Respond to this video... Barking mule. You are a jackass. It's fine to have an opinion but you are a jackass. That's my final word on the topic. You might also want to read the rest of the comments on here. I understand nobody can match your expert evaluation of the theater but apparently the masses disagree. Pretentious snob!

[pudgeuncle]

@ruggerdgmail If you think that Ms. Neuwirth can remotely carry a tune, then I suggest that in addition to a psychiatric evaluation that you have your hearing checked. Did you see her in Damn Yankees? My ears were bleeding. She's a stunner and a great comic, an average dancer but to suggest that the noise emanating from her pie hole could remotely be called singing is insulting to the hearing.

[pudgeuncle]

@ruggerdgmail And dear, I apologize. I know that a Tony for a musical means that you are always a GREAT singer...like Natasha Richardson, Lauren Bacall, Matthew Broderick, Vivien Leigh, Bert Lahr, Zero Mostel, George Rose, Richard, Burton, Glynis Johns, Rosalind Russell, Thelma Ritter, etc.. In fact, I am totally perplexed as to why these magnficent voices didn't have many top ten hits with such high vocal standards on Broadway.

[JuanAchach]

I love, love, love, love "CHICAGO" and Bebe Neuwirth as Velma Kelly. Thanks for posting this video of the OBC!! =D

[jadenbobaden]

Every movement Bebe makes in this number is absolutely hypnotizing. Love it! Thanks for sharing!